Regulated Garbage Removal

Garbage containing or associated with plant or animal materials; generated onboard conveyances arriving from any place outside the United States, except Canada, is subject to requirements and safeguards for handling once in the United States.

Garbage becomes regulated by APHIS per 7 CFR 330.401 and 9 CFR 94.5 (c) when generated onboard a conveyance (ocean vessels and aircraft) only when the garbage is on or removed from the conveyance.

Additionally, the conveyance generating the garbage has either:

·Moved outside of the U.S. or Canada within the previous 2 year period; or

·Moved to or from Hawaii, U.S. territories, or possessions within the previous 1 year period

Regulated garbage must be disposed at a site approved to handle regulated garbage. Vessels may remove or “purge” their stores and garbage and disinfect, to attain “domestic status.”

By purging their stores and garbage, vessel owners are provided an opportunity to reduce their costs associated with garbage removal.

What is purging?

Vessels may purge (remove, in accordance with APHIS requirements, all garbage or stores that might introduce foreign plant and animal pests and diseases) their stores and garbage and disinfect if necessary to attain “domestic status”.  Purging allows the garbage generated after the purge to be disposed of without grinding, incineration, or sterilization. 

Procedures for Purging:  

CBP Agriculture Specialists will monitor the purging of the vessel’s regulated stores and garbage and subsequent cleaning and disinfection. 

As part of the purging process, the vessel has to dispose of the following items:

Meat and meat products regardless of origin, except shelf stable canned meat/poultry.(Special note: All ruminant material from BSE affected countries (regardless of processing/even if shelf stable canned) and canned perishable poultry material from END and/or HPAI countries are prohibited and must be disposed of). 

Fresh and condensed milk and cream from countries in which Foot and Mouth disease exists

Fresh eggs

Fresh fruits and vegetables

All garbage aboard the vessel

To get a head start, the crew can remove the food items from their rooms, kitchen cabinets/refrigerator/freezer and place them in strong plastic bags(keep them on the vessel until the CBPAS arrive).

Following disposal, all storerooms and locations which held the previously purged material must be cleaned and disinfected (with authorized/approved disinfectant) by the crew also under direct supervision of a CBPAS. 

The purged material is to be incinerated or sterilized.

The captain will be given a CBP Form AI288 Ship Inspection Report with “Purged-now domestic” written in the Remarks Block

Schedule the purge when you have consumed most, if not all of your stores.

Items that are not considered regulated:

Dried products

Salt/pepper

Sugar

Processed condiments(ketchup, mayo, mustard)

Cereal

Flour

Bottles

Cans

Paper and plastics not associated with food

You will remain in the domestic status as long as you remain in the U.S.  Virgin Islands.  Once you leave the Virgin Islands, to visit a foreign country or anywhere in the Continental United States, your status returns to regulated garbage.

Keep one bin for regulated garbage and another one for dry waste, to simplify this process since not all garbage is regulated waste.

If you would like to schedule a purge please send an email ONIQUEE.WINSTON@CBP.DHS.GOV or call Oniquee Winston 340-774-4554 or 340-626-1542.  If you haveany further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

find more information in the USDA website at:https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/sa_import/sa_garbage/ct_regulated_garbage/c